Sri Lanka: 2025 budget pledges reforms largely aligned with conditions set out in IMF bailout
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister, presented the 2025 budget to the Parliament on 17 February 2025, introducing various tax and legal reforms to advance the new government’s policy agenda. These reforms are key to
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Lithuania: Government approves draft law to implement EU VAT scheme for small businesses
The Government of Lithuania approved the draft Law prepared by the Ministry of Finance on 5 February 2025, which proposes to transpose the new provisions of the European Union (EU) legislation adopted in the field of value added tax (VAT) that are
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OECD warns against Ireland’s heavy reliance on tax revenue from MNEs
The OECD published Survey of Ireland 2025 on 12 February 2025, warning Ireland’s heavy reliance on tax revenue from multinational companies and a narrow tax base could be risky. The survey also points out that one-third of income earners in
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Bosnia and Herzegovina mandates tax-exempt financial assistance for employees
Bosnia and Herzegovina published Official Gazette No. 8/25, on 5 February 2025, introducing a new regulation to help reduce the impact of rising inflation on citizens. Employers can now provide up to BAM 450 in monthly financial assistance to
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Australia urges top privately owned wealthy groups to document processes to manage tax issues, risks
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a statement urging privately owned and wealthy groups to document their processes for identifying and managing tax issues and risks on 7 February 2025. ATO’s ongoing engagement with groups in the
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Poland to consult R&D tax relief under Pillar Two GloBE Rules
The Ministry of Finance announced that it will hold consultations on the direction of modifications to the research and development (R&D) tax relief in the context of the Pillar Two GloBE Rules on 21 February 2025. Registrations for
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US: Trump Administration unveils plan to reduce trade deficit
The Trump Administration has released a memorandum introducing the "Fair and Reciprocal Plan," aimed at reducing the trade deficit and promoting fairness in international trade on 13 February 2025. The letter states that for many years, the
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UK: Treasury Forms global group to assess CBAM impact
The UK Treasury has announced the need for a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) group to gather insights from international partners on the UK CBAM and provide updates on 11 February 2025. The Autumn Budget 2024 confirmed that the
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Portugal rules capital gain on foreign shares not taxable
The Portuguese tax authority (PTA) issued Ruling No. 21788 on 31 January 2025, announcing that a Portuguese non-resident individual is not liable for capital gains tax in Portugal on the sale of shares in a foreign company with assets in the
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UK launches consultation on e-invoicing
The UK's tax authority, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched a 12-week public consultation (Promoting electronic invoicing across UK businesses and the public sector) regarding the adoption of electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) across
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UAE updates excise tax on e-smoking, VAT correction rules
The UAE Ministry of State for Financial Affairs issued Ministerial Decision No. 1 of 2025 on 3 January 2025, revising the excise tax framework for electronic smoking devices. This decision, effective from 3 January 2025, replaces Ministerial
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Czech Republic issues guidance on VAT rules for fuel cards
The Czech Republic’s General Financial Directorate (GFD) has issued updated guidelines on applying value-added tax (VAT) for fuel cards. Under the guidance, fuel card issuers can use the “commissionaire” model to act as a buyer and seller
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Hungary: EU approves reverse charge extension for insolvency supplies
Hungary has announced that the EU Council Implementing Decision 2024/3209 of 23 December 2024 has approved the extension of the reverse charge mechanism under the VAT Directive (2006/112) until 31 December 2026. This applies to supplies of capital
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Israel clarifies CbC reporting rules for MNEs
The Israel Tax Authority (ITA) issued Income Tax Circular No. 1/2025 on 11 February 2025, which clarifies amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance. The amendments pertain to transfer pricing and country-by-country (CbC) reporting requirements. The
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Romania announces new tax on special constructions
Romania has made additional amendments to the Tax Code (Law no. 227/2015) reinstating the tax on special constructions, under Emergency Ordinance no. 156 of 30 December 2024. A new amendment is reintroducing a 1% tax on non-building constructions
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Kenya seeks public input on draft 2024 tax rules for unassembled motor vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers
The Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), in a public notice issued on 6 February 2025 on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, is inviting public feedback on two draft regulations: the
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Romania: VAT exemptions for hospital supplies, changes to VAT deposit return system
Romania’s government has announced an extension of the value-added tax (VAT) exemption to include certain supplies provided to hospitals on 20 December 2024. Additionally, changes were made to the VAT regime for non-reusable primary packaging as
See MoreSri Lanka: 2025 Budget expected to lower income taxes, secure IMF bailout
Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the nation’s finance minister, is expected to present the state budget for 2025 on Monday, 17 February 2025. A key focus of the budget is to ease the vehicle import duties, which is
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